Chamisha Asar - mi yodeya?

Question

Who knows fifteen?

Please cite/link your sources, if possible. After about one business day, I will:

• Upvote all interesting answers.

• Accept the best answer.

• Go on to the next number.

Answer 1

Fifteen are the women who exempt their co-wives. (Mishna Yevamot 1:1)

(from Yibum and Chalitza)

Answer 2

Fifteen was the depth (in cubits) of the Flood waters above the mountaintops (Gen. 7:20) - or according to R' Yehudah (Bereishis Rabbah 32:17), all over the world.

Answer 3

Fifteen years old to start learning Talmud. (Avot 5:24)

Answer 4

Fifteen are the steps from the azarah to the ezras Kohanim.

Answer 5

Fifteen are the Shirei HaMa'alos.

Answer 6

There are 15 Simanim at the Seder. Kadesh, Urchatz........

Answer 7

Fifteen is the date of holidays in five of the twelve months.

Or, according to some, six.

And sometimes seven of thirteen.

Answer 8

Fifteen are the extra years added to King Chizkiyahu's lifetime, after his sincere prayer and resolution to fulfill Hashem's command to marry and bear children (II Kings 20:6 and Isaiah 38:5; Talmud, Berachos 10a).

Answer 9

Fifteen are the unintelligent people it takes to make a minyan:

Hosheea es amecha uvarech es nachalesecha urem urem urem urem venasem urem venasem ad olam

(Yes, this is a joke.)

Answer 10

With Fifteen (the gematria of the name Yud-Heh) He formed the worlds.

Answer 11

15 are the days S'faradim are not sad during the Omer.

Answer 12

15 is the day of the month of Iyar that the Manna began to fall for the Jews in the desert.

Answer 13

15 - the number of instances where the Torah requires the bringing of a קרבן יחיד -- an individual sacrifice (as listed by the Rambam in Hilchos Maaseh Hakorbanos 1:6).

• 1) הבכור - the firstborn offerings (Hilchos Bechoros 1:2)
• 2) והמעשר - the tithe offerings (Hilchos Bechoros 6:4)
• 3) והפסח - the Korban Pesach (Hilchos Korban Pesach 1:1)
• 4) והחגיגה והיא שלמים - the chagigah offerings, i.e., the peace offerings [brought in association with the pilgrimage festivals] (Hilchos Chagigah 1:2)
• 5) והראיה והיא עולות - the pilgrimage offering which is a burnt-offering (Hilchos Chagigah 1:2)
• 6) וקרבן הגר והוא עולה מן הבהמה או שני בני יונה או שתי תורים ושניהן עולה או שתי בהמות אחת עולה ואחת שלמים - the sacrifice brought by a convert, that involves a burnt-offering from a domesticated animal, two small doves or two turtle doves; both of them are burnt-offerings, or two domesticated animals, one as a burnt-offering and one as a peace-offering (Hilchos Mechusrei Kaparah 1:2)
• 7) והנודר או המתנדב עולה או שלמים - one who vows or pledges a burnt-offering or a peace offering (Hilchos Maaseh Hakorbanos 14:1)
• 8) ושלמים הבאין עם הלחם הם הנקראים תודה - peace-offerings that are accompanied by bread; they are called thanksgiving offerings (Hilchos Maaseh Hakorbanos 9:5)
• 9) קרבנות הנזיר והן עולה וחטאת ושלמים - the sacrifices of a nazir, which are a burnt-offering, a sin-offering, and a peace-offering (Hilchos Nezirut 8:1-2)
• 10) קרבנות מצורע והן חטאת ואשם ועולה - the sacrifices of a metzora, which are a sin-offering, and a guilt-offering, and a burnt-offering (Hilchos Mechusrei Kaparah 4:1-2)
• 11) וקרבנות זבים ויולדות והן חטאת ועולה - the sacrifices of a zav a zavah, and a women after childbirth; they are a sin-offering and a burnt-offering (Hilchos Mechusrei Kaparah 1:3)
• 12) וקרבן השוגג במצות לא תעשה שיש בה כרת והוא חטאת - the sacrifice brought by a person who inadvertently violated a negative commandment punishable by karet; it is a sin-offering (Hilchos Shegagos, 1st perek)
• 13) ואם נסתפק לו אם עשה או לא עשה אותו החוטא מביא אשם והוא הנקרא אשם תלוי - if a person was unsure of whether he transgressed or not, that transgressor brings a guilt-offering; it is called a conditional guilt-offering (Hilchos Shegagos, 8th perek)
• 14) ויש עבירות שמביא עליהן אשם והוא הנקרא אשם ודאי - there are certain sins for which one brings a guilt-offering [to atone for their transgression]; this is called a definite guilt-offering (Hilchos Shegagos, 9th perek)
• 15) וכן איל העולה ופר החטאת שמקריב כהן גדול משלו ביוה"כ הרי הן קרבן יחיד ופר זה הוא הנקרא פר יום הכפורים - similarly, the ram brought as a burnt-offering and the bull the High Priest brings from his own resources as a sin-offering on Yom Kippur, are individual offerings; the bull is called "the bull of Yom Kippur." (Hilchos Avodas Yom HaKippurim 4:1-2 )

Answer 14

Chamisha Asar B'Omer always comes out on Rosh Chodesh

Answer 15

Fifteen is the fifteen expressions in the berachah of Ha-Tov ve-ha-Meitiv (לחן ולחסד ולרחמים ולרוח הצלה והצלחה ברכה וישועה נחמה פרנסה וכלכלה ורחמים וחיים ושלום וכל טוב), which correspond to:

1. the fifteen meals of the week (2 each day and 3 on Shabbos);
2. the fifteen words in the pasuk קדושים תהיו;
3. the fifteen appearances of the word שירה in Chamishah Chumshei Torah;
4. the fifteen appearances of the word שמחה in Chamishah Chumshei Torah;
5. the fifteen names of God in the Aseret Ha-Dibrot;
6. the fifteen names of God in Va-Yosha and Az Yashir;
7. the fifteen words of Birkat Kohanim;
8. the fifteen times the root למד appears in Devarim;
9. the fifteen years required for Talmud study;
10. the fifteen times the word Kavod appears in Yechezkel;
11. the fifteen mizmorim in Tehillim following the order of the alef beis;
12. the fifteen praises in the pasuk לך ה' הגדולה;
13. the fifteen praises for the Torah in the mizmor תורת ה' תמימה;
14. the fifteen שיר המעלות;
15. the fifteen years that the three Avot overlapped in this world.

Source: פירוש ברכת המזון למוהר"ן שפירא.

Answer 16

Shemos 27:14 The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.

Shemot 27:15 And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.

Vayikra 27:7 And if it be from sixty years old and above; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels.

Hoshea 3:2 So I bought her to me for fifteen silver, and an omer of barley, and a half omer of barley:

Yeshayahu 38:5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith HaShem, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.

Answer 17

1- Fifteen generations from Abraham to King Solomon; then fifteen generations from Solomon until the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash.

2- There were fifteen who ruled Israel as judges

Answer 18

[Midrash Rabbah - Bereishis 97] The tribes are enumerated fifteen times in the Torah [together].

Answer 19

Shemot 25 [Fifteen things were given as donations toward the construction of the Mishkan:] [3] ...gold, and silver, and brass, [4] And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, [5] And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, [6] Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, 7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.